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Treasures of the Royal Palace Amsterdam

The stately Royal Palace on Dam Square is one of the main historic monuments in Amsterdam. In the 17th century, the imposing building in the city centre was dubbed the ‘eighth wonder of the world’. Nowadays it is mainly used for official receptions and royal events, although the antique interior and beautiful art collection are open to the general public throughout the year.

The Royal Palace Amsterdam wasn’t always a palace. Originally it was intended to be the new city hall of Amsterdam, designed in 1648 by the famous architect Jacob van Campen. This classical, lavishly decorated building was to reflect the grandeur and wealth acquired by Amsterdam in the Golden Age, a time of major economic and cultural prosperity. Inside, you can still admire detailed sculptures and precious paintings from that age, including works by Rembrandt, Govaert Flinck and Ferdinand Bol.

 The Royal Palace in Amsterdam

Amsterdam

From City Hall to Royal Palace

Being the most important merchant city in the world in the 17th century, Amsterdam required a representative city hall. Dam Square, the historic heart of the city, was deemed to be the ideal location. On its completion in 1665, the City Hall – which is supported by 13,659 wooden piles – was the largest public building in Europe. The pride of Amsterdam's inhabitants is exemplified by the renowned Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel, who compared the stunning building with ‘a bride who is the centre of attention on her wedding day’.
It wasn’t until 1808 that the building became royal when King Louis, the brother of the French emperor, started using it as his living quarters. He didn’t get to enjoy it for long, however; after Napoleon was overthrown in 1813, Prince William of Orange gave the Palace back to the city. The Empire furniture, however, is still on display today, comprising some 2,000 pieces ─ from wooden and upholstered furniture to brass chandeliers and original tapestries.

Golden Age showpieces

The Palace includes 17 majestic halls, rooms and galleries open to the public, most importantly the Citizens’ Hall which is the largest hall in the Palace. The space symbolises the universe; the marble floors feature maps of the Northern Celestial Hemisphere and also the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The Palace is best visited during its annual exhibitions in summer and autumn. In summer it displays the rich history of the building and showpieces from the Golden Age, while in autumn the focus shifts to young and upcoming artists who have been nominated for the Royal Award for Modern Painting.

“Citizens’ Hall symbolises the universe: the marble floors feature maps of the Northern Celestial Hemisphere and also the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.”